The precognition came as a whisper instead of a shout.
Marcus watched the training drone approach through measured tactical enhancement, letting the future sight filter through Sarah's new neural interface. Three seconds of crystal clarity, using a fraction of the energy his old method had required.
"Contact," he subvocalized through their comm system. "Bobby, Maya – converging threats at your six."
His team moved like liquid shadow through the server farm's converted training area. No wasted motion, no reliance on his powers. Just perfect coordination born from weeks of practice.
"Neural patterns holding steady," Sarah reported from her monitoring station. "Precognition burn rate at twelve percent of previous baseline. How's the clarity?"
"Like watching through a scope instead of binoculars." Marcus tracked the drones' movements with professional precision. "Narrower field but better focus. Maya, left channel in three..."
The drone never saw her coming. One moment it was executing its patrol pattern, the next it lay disabled on the floor, Maya already moving to her next position.
"That's four for four," Bobby called from his elevated perch. "Want to make it interesting? Say, actual parkour routes instead of these basic patterns?"
"Negative." Doc's voice carried medical authority. "We're testing sustainable power usage, not trying to fry his brain again."
Marcus smiled at the interplay. The new protocols had transformed their combat doctrine, turning his abilities from a tactical crutch into a force multiplier. Limited power usage, carefully targeted application, and absolute trust in his team's capabilities.
"Ready for phase two?" Maya asked, materializing beside him like a ghost.
"Sarah?"
"Neural pathways are stable. You can increase tactical enhancement to forty percent capacity."
Marcus nodded, letting his combat awareness expand gradually. The world sharpened into tactical clarity, but without the overwhelming sensory flood of his previous all-out efforts.
"Movement spotted," Bobby reported. "Multiple contacts, using our own patterns against us. These drones are learning."
"Good." Maya's smile held predatory anticipation. "So are we. Marcus, full team deployment?"
"Execute Formation Delta."
The team flowed into motion with practiced grace. Bobby provided overhead intelligence while Maya led the direct assault. Marcus coordinated through measured power usage, each enhancement carefully regulated.
"Contact front!" Maya's warning overlapped with his precognitive flash, but he didn't need the power to predict her response. Their movements had become synchronized through countless hours of training.
"Neural spike," Sarah cautioned. "Tactical enhancement crossing fifty percent."
"Acknowledged." Marcus pulled the power back, trusting his natural abilities. "Bobby, how many still active?"
"Three drones, all running advanced evasion protocols. They've adapted to our standard responses."
"Then let's show them something new." Marcus keyed his comm. "Maya, remember that crazy move Bobby taught you?"
"The wall-run to reverse flip? Little hard to forget that level of insanity."
"Think you can modify it for combat application?"
Her laugh carried pure joy. "Doc's going to hate this."
"I already hate it," Doc grumbled. "Just try not to break anything I can't fix."
The next thirty seconds were a masterclass in controlled chaos. Maya used Bobby's parkour techniques to approach from an impossible angle while Marcus provided coordinated support through minimal power usage. The drones' learning algorithms couldn't adapt to moves that defied standard combat logic.
"Clear," Bobby announced as the last drone powered down. "And may I say, that was beautiful. Like watching lethal ballet."
"Neural patterns still stable," Sarah confirmed. "Maximum power usage stayed under sixty percent."
Doc emerged from his observation position, medical scanner ready. "And what's the physical cost of this 'lethal ballet' approach?"
"Minimal strain," Marcus reported honestly. "The new interface lets me modulate power flow like adjusting a scope's focus. Clear target, measured application, controlled result."
"Which means we can maintain operational tempo without burning you out." Maya appeared beside him, barely winded despite her acrobatics. "Not bad for a SEAL learning parkour."
"Not bad for a SWAT officer either." He studied his team through carefully regulated tactical enhancement. "Bobby, how did the drones' learning algorithms handle our new patterns?"
"That's the beautiful part." Their scout's grin was audible. "They adapted to our individual techniques, but couldn't predict how we'd combine them. The whole 'greater than the sum of its parts' thing."
Sarah emerged from her monitoring station with Morgan, both scientists reviewing the combat data. "The neural interface is performing above expectations. By limiting each ability's intensity, we've actually increased your overall combat effectiveness."
"Like running a marathon instead of a sprint," Doc added. "Sustainable power usage means reliable tactical advantage."
Marcus absorbed this through measured enhancement. "Upload the combat data to our prediction models. If the drones can adapt to our tactics—"
"Our real opponents will too," Maya finished. "But they'll be preparing for your abilities, not our combined capabilities."
"Speaking of capabilities..." Bobby's voice carried a hint of mischief. "I may have acquired some upgraded training drones. You know, hypothetically. Something about military prototype AI and advanced combat algorithms."
"Hypothetically," Maya echoed with a smile.
"How many?" Marcus asked, already calculating tactical applications.
"Hypothetically? Twelve. With full squad coordination protocols and adaptive learning systems."
Doc sighed. "I'll prep extra medical supplies."
"And I'll refine the neural interface parameters," Sarah added. "If we're scaling up training, we need to ensure power management keeps pace."
Marcus watched his team transition from training to preparation, each person anticipating needs before they arose. The server farm hummed with purpose as equipment was reset and data analyzed.
"Formation Delta was good," Maya said quietly. "But we can make it better. Bobby's been teaching me some new moves."
"Just remember we're soldiers, not circus performers."
"Says the time-traveling SEAL with superpowers." She smiled. "Face it, boss. Normal went out the window a long time ago."
Looking at their transformed base, at his evolved team, Marcus couldn't argue. They'd become something unique – part military unit, part research team, part family. Each person contributing their strengths while covering others' limitations.
Including his.
"Alright," he announced. "Let's see these new drones. Bobby, set up a complex scenario. Maya, show me these new moves. Doc..."
"Already got the medical bay prepped." The medic's resignation carried fond amusement. "Just try to keep the hypothetical injuries to a minimum."
The team moved with purpose as Bobby's upgraded drones powered up. Marcus let his carefully regulated abilities catalog every detail of their preparation. They had six weeks until the original outbreak timeline. Six weeks to stop multiple organizations from unleashing hell on earth.
Looking at his team in action, he almost felt sorry for their opponents.
Almost.